Kenny Kassel–A Friend Is Gone
A dear friend passed away this week, and I, along with all in the physique world who knew Kenny Kassel—promoter, talent manager, NPC/IFBB official, announcer, among his many hats—am absolutely reeling. Wasn’t it just three months ago that we were standing at a bar at the Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas mourning the loss of Kenny’s dear friend of 30 years Steve Stone? Kenny was the one reeling the most that night. I mean, we all loved Steve, but they went way back, both being charter members of what I like to call the New York-New Jersey-and-sometimes-Connecticut contingent, and Kenny had appeared with Steve and bodybuilding champ Tom Terwilliger on the pioneer bodybuilding cable show, “MuscleSportUSA, back in the late 1980s and early ’90s.
Kenny and partner Bob Bonham, of Strong & Shapely Gym fame, pioneered strength and physique competitions for women with their Women’s Strength Extravaganza, which they promoted in New Jersey in the ’90s and early 2000s just for the sheer love of it. (There was also a Pro Extravaganza for a couple of years, and in ’99 it was double-billed with the Ms. Olympia, which Kenny helped “save” after the original promoter had to drop out.)
Over the years I spent more late-night postcontest hours with Kenny Kassel than I can count—in Columbus, New York, Vegas and various other cities where bodybuilders have been known to pose onstage—schmoozing into the a.m. about the contests, the people and any other details that were worth discussing. The restaurant at the Doubletree in Columbus will never be the same.
I remember a night in Manhattan a couple of years ago. He’d recently attended his high school reunion and was bubbling about the memorable time he’d had. Kenny had been a football player, I learned, which changed my preconceived notions of what a football player should be like. Another night, at the Orleans Casino, I was down in the dumps, and he gave me a lesson in gaming. Ca-ching. Kenny knew a lot about the odds.
He was a familiar face to many as part of the NPC/IFBB backstage team. Is there a figure or fitness competitor alive who didn’t feel a bit more relaxed thanks to those few seconds of chat with Kenny before she was called onstage at a big national show? In recent years he’d become part of the IRON MAN Pro family as well, journeying to Los Angeles lend John Balik, Helen Yu and the gang a hand for our big weekend. He’ll be missed there too.
In a few days we’ll find out the cause of death—he reportedly collapsed at his home—but those are details I’m not that concerned about. Bottom line: The sport and the world have lost a sweetheart, and I like so many others have lost a friend.
Photo: Kenny and fitness icon Debbie Kruck joined some members of the IM team at the ’08 Meet the Olympians reception (from left): Roland Balik, John Balik, Debbie, me and Kenny. Debbie was a Women’s Extravaganza winner in fitness in ’92.
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Long term steroid abuse will catch up with ya.
I don’t understand the Comment from Debbie Kruck. Kenny was Great person and friend to many. His loss is a great one.
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Kenny was absolutely NOT a steroid user. He did not have the appearance of one. Nor was he in competition. He was a truly great guy who wanted to help people. If you look at the comments that others have made, you would have to agree with that. You obviously have never met Kenny. I have known him for 42 years, and I know that Kenny was there to help people. Find anyone who has met him or dealt with him, and they will agree.
Kenny was my greatest friend and supporter. I loved him dearly as did everyone he came in contact with. I was devastated upon the news of Kennys death and completely inconsolable. In addition to Kenny my grampa was placed in ICU the next day which happend to be Christmas adding to my devastation. I want everyone to know Kenny never smoked, swore, drank (ok I did make him do a couple shots at the bar in Vegas after learning about Steve Stones death) and would NEVER do steroids or take a pill of any kind. Whomever left the above comment in my name will be found out and made public. They obviously have an issue with either Kenny or I and will be dealt with accordingly. If anyone wants to know what I really feel about Kenny you can call me @ 386.566.3685. Again, I never made the above comment…Kenny was a saint and very loved..
I have know both Debbie and Kenny for a very long time and there was nothing but love between them. Kenny was a good and wonderful man. And Debbie is one of the sweetest most sincere people I have ever met. end of Story.
I still can’t believe he is gone. What a great man, great friend, GREAT LOSS!
In 1993, Kenny and I worked on several film projects together. Over the years, I came to know him as one of the best people on the planet. We both appeared in Muscelmag International in 1998, after I recovered from a near death bout with Lupus. We spent many hours at various Arnold Classics, and now, here it is Feb. and I am just learning of this death. My whole family will miss him. He was quite simply, a real man. Love ya Ken. God’s speed.
Cher Kenny,
Ce message est pour toi. Je veux que tu saches que tu as été un homme extraordinaire, un motivateur hors du commun, toujours là présent pour nous et un vrai professionnel dans ce domaine. C’est très vrai que tous les gens t’aiment car tu es une personne simple et vrai, un coeur ouvert à tous. Tu as été une personne très importante pour moi et une personne que j’étais très fier de connaître. La première fois que nous nous sommes rencontré a été au Jan Tana 2001, tu as vu en moi un potentiel et tu es venu à moi et tu m’as guidé tout au long de mon avanture dans la IFBB jusqu’en 2004. Je veux en profiter pour te remercier encore une fois car je voulais t’appeller aujourd’hui et je me suis dis juste avant je vais regarder sur l’internet pour voir ce que tu as fais ces dernier temps et c’est là que j’ai découvert cette nouvelle, que tu es maintenant au paradis avec Dieu. J’ai beaucoup de peine car je devais t’appeller à l’Automne dernier et mon petit garçon qui avait 6 mois au mois de Septembre 2008 à subit une opération à la tête alors j’ai pris le temps avec lui et la famille. J’aurais tellement aimé te présenter ma famille comme on s’était déjà parlé. Je sais que tu es au paradis car tu as tellement apporté le Bonheur dans tous les coeur des gens que tu as aidé tout au long de ta vie sur terre. Repose en paix et je vais te prier tous les soirs qui me reste à moi aussi sur cette terre. Je t’aime beaucoup et que Dieu te protège…
Sophie qui va s’ennuyer de toi!
xxxx
In 1997, Kenny and I spent ,many a night on the phone after a near death experience I had had with a heart attack. Kenny shortly after asked me to appear in several fitness projects he had with Don the Wilson Dragon. From then on we were friends. Kenny always supported me with my desire to help others through various struggles they might have been facing. I later won Kenny’s website promo and once again appeared in projects he had put together with many of the fitness models. he was truly a loving beautiful soul and will be missed immensely. Love to you Kenny!